Compare towns
Hartford vs Williston vs Hanover vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hartford | Williston | Hanover | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
10,144 |
8,479 |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.